After that she met Shameless Photography, and she started thinking about all the big-bodied women who inspired her. While many of them were strong, fearless and brilliant women (for example Rosanne Barr), none of them were particularly sexy or sexual.

However, the one picture that kept coming back to her mind was Madonna's hitchhiking picture, so they decided to recreate it because "the image was so unapologetic that 22 years later, it still lives in the forefront of my memory".

But that doesn't mean she didn't have doubts:

"I kept asking myself, who am I to be so bold as to not only get naked for a photo shoot in public but also share that photograph with the world? But the counter question came immediately, "Who am I NOT to share a gorgeous and artistic photo of me standing boldly and unapologetically in my body with the world?"

However, the image, which appears in the post has also elicited critcism, with many commenters suggesting that although she might be brave, to condone someone's body shape that is clearly overweight and therefore unhealthy is wrong.

Commenter Catherine Pizzi wrote: "I wonder if it is entirely in her best interest to be obese while realizing the serious health complications. It is not a question of "standards" of beauty when you are jeopardizing your well being."

While another commenter, Ruba says: "I'm not buying into this fat-loving business, calling it beauty. One neither needs to be obese nor very slim to feel beautiful. What happened to simply accepting your body as beautiful? What about not only accepting it, but loving it enough to keep it healthy?"

But when we're faced with unhealthily thin images on the catwalk should we judge Denise's picture so harshly? Shouldn't we accept this as a way to help all women accept their bodies the way they are?

What do you think? Is this beautiful and brave or is it just irresponsible? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @stylistmagazine

(Image: Shameless Photography)

Woman sparks controversy after recreating naked Madonna pose